Neurology: Conditions & Treatments

Every day experts from all facets of Emory’s Department of Neurology rack their brains in order to help neurology patients ease their minds. With a mission of “improving the health of people with neurological diseases through the best clinical care, research, and teaching,” Emory’s Department of Neurology has made great strides in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, Stroke, and Epilepsy.

Ranked 9th in research in the country in funding from the National Institutes of Health, and 12th for Neurology Departments by the US News and World Report, Emory Neurology relentlessly pursues its mission and constantly aims to find more effective neurological treatment options. Medical science is truly interwoven with patient care, and as a result, Emory physicians are able to shed new light on the disease processes as well as provide the most relevant therapies for the treatment of these complex chronic neurological conditions.

The Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology Program specializes in treating patients with memory loss, dementia, and cognitive dysfunction and has several ongoing research projects. Specific interests include Alzheimer's disease, familial dementias, genetic studies, mild cognitive impairment, cholinergic and anticholinergics in delirium and dementia, vascular dementia, epidemiology of dementia in African-Americans, management of behavioral and psychotic symptoms, dementia associated with Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and other movement disorders.

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that causes abnormal electrical activity in the brain resulting in recurrent seizures. It is estimated that over 40 million people in the world may suffer from epilepsy. Epilepsy affects children, adults, and seniors and can be genetically present from birth or caused by a head injury, brain tumors, or infectious diseases. In many cases, the cause cannot be discovered.

The Emory Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Program faculty provide internationally recognized expertise in Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, dystonia, tremor, tic disorders, and other movement disorders. In addition to expert diagnosis and clinical management, our specialty services include a Parkinson’s disease comprehensive care clinic, a botulinum toxin injection clinic, a deep brain stimulation program, a comprehensive Huntington’s disease clinic, and a Tourette Center of Excellence.

The Neuromuscular Division of the Department of Neurology consists of physicians, nurses, and technical staff that focus on the diagnosis and treatment of people with diseases of peripheral nerves, muscles, and the neuromuscular junction. Neuromuscular diseases include peripheral neuropathies, Guillain-Barre syndrome, myasthenia gravis, muscular dystrophies, and ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease).